Acclaimed songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Dani Larkin's debut album Notes For A Maiden Warrior, garnered Irish Folk Award and NI Music Prize nominations and led Larkin to tour with Snow Patrol, Lisa O'Neill, Glen Hansard, Lisa Hannigan, Rufus Wainwright and Ye Vagabonds as well as collaborations with the Ulster Orchestra and RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
Now she's back with a new single, End Of It All, and an album Next Of Kin due in January 2026.
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We asked Dani for her choice cultural picks...
FILM
Civil War. This is beautifully filmed. Rather than focusing on the grotesque and almost gratuitous nature of violence, they tell a brilliant and beautiful story about photography. It doesn't shy away from the elements of dehumanisation that exist in war but the filmmakers don't make it the focus of the story. A stunning watch.
MUSIC
Shabaka Hutchings, CMAT, Junior Brother, Little Zimz. Shabaka Hutchings is one of those artists who nourishes me. His work is as necessary as it is beautiful and compelling. I think CMAT's Euro-Country is a really brilliant album. Fair play.
Junior Brother's new record, The End, is also stellar and it's incredible how he's carved out an audience for his work. His audience are really there with him and that's a brilliant thing to see. Little Simz' inspires me to no end. I recently saw a video of her performing at the Southbank Centre in London. She conducted the Chineke! orchestra, Europe's first majority Black orchestra, while performing. I can't even begin to imagine what it must've felt like to be in the room. Powerful.
BOOK
Benjamin Zephaniah's autobiography. I had never heard of Benjamin Zephaniah before and I haven't actually watched Peaky Blinders so his world was invigorating for me. Technically, I wasn't even supposed to have his book as I was just holding it for a friend but it drew me in and was a faithful companion for a week or so. It was only two weeks later that I realised he'd passed away and I was devastated. He seemed like a voice we could be doing with in the current times.
THEATRE
I've heard through the grapevine that there's a new play being written about Sinead O'Connor. Stacey Graham is writing the script and it's being produced by (Oscar-nominated company) Nine Daughters. I'm looking forward to seeing that when it comes to fruition.
TV
Perhaps a bit of a guilty pleasure but I've really been enjoying Wednesday. The storytelling in the first season was compelling and Jenna Ortega is brilliant.
GIG
I have tickets to some stunning shows this Autumn. The songs of Joni Mitchell performed by This Is The Kit, Lisa Hannigan and Loah and Beverly Glenn Copeland's show in Vicar St. The last show I went to was Ye Vagabonds in the walled garden in Bangor just two weeks ago. It had a real las of the summer wine feel and a stunning way to welcome the Autumn.
ART
Eimear Walshe is an incredible artist who manages to capture the urgency of the times across their work in a consistent and compelling way. I've only witnessed snippets of their new work, Romantic Ireland, but wow. Talk about hitting the nail on the head in a way that invites curiosity and critical thinking around what it means to be Irish in today's world.
RADIO
I've recently come across the Edinburgh based radio broadcaster and DJ Gemma Cairney. I was glued to the radio for the best part of last Sunday in a way that I haven't been gripped by radio for quite some time.
I was driving home from Dublin late the other night and a show called Caravan Radio appeared on the airwaves. The musical choices were gorgeous and I'm looking forward to listening in again.
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TECH
I'm not a big tech lover but the bird app Merlin is a firm favourite. It's a free app that identifies birdsong through recordings or photographs.
THE NEXT BIG THING...
The Next Big Thing is a resurgence in buying records! I came off all music streaming services eight months ago and haven't looked back. I've only bought records or digital downloads and it's really changed how I engage with music and the artists that I love.
Dani Larkin's single End Of It All is out now - her album Next Of Kin is out in January 2026
